Novato · Mon Nov 23 – Sat Nov 28, 2026

Thanksgiving, the easy way

One test for every choice on this page: does it take work off Kate and Bill? Below is the week, who's coming, what we found on each of the four ideas, three ways to put them together, and the questions to settle.

10–12at the Thursday table
0–2house guests, plus Grace and Audrey home
9at Seared for Grace's 25th
Putting it together

Three ways the week could go

The helper and pie order work under all three. The only real fork is where Thursday dinner happens.

A

Host, with a crew

A helper Mon–Wed does the clean, prep and beds. A personal chef cooks Thursday, and a server handles dinner and dishes. Kate and Bill host and don't cook.

Load on K&B
light

~$3,000–4,500 est.

B

Host, store-bought base

Molly Stone's dinner for 10–12 plus 2–3 family favorites and 3 bakery pies. The helper covers Mon–Wed, and a cleanup crew comes Thursday evening. The most "ours" of the three.

Load on K&B
moderate

~$1,800–2,800 est.

C

Go out

Private room in Marin or Sonoma for 12. A Monday deep clean gets the house ready for guests. Pick up a turkey and pies anyway so Friday has leftovers.

Load on K&B
lightest

~$2,200–3,300 est.

Do these first, because the good options fill up

  1. Now — Call Seared (707-762-5997) to hold a table for 9 on Sat Nov 28 and ask about bringing a cake.
  2. Oct 1 — If going out, Buckeye Roadhouse opens Thanksgiving booking on Resy at midnight. Other Marin and Sonoma spots open Oct 1–15 and prime 4–6pm tables for big groups go within days.
  3. By mid-Oct — Book the Mon–Wed helper and any personal chef. Start this week by asking your own cleaner and posting on Nextdoor, and call the staffing companies about the whole week. Holiday-week staff and chefs are mostly committed by early November.
  4. Late Oct — Grocery and bakery holiday menus post. Place the Molly Stone's order and pie order then. Pie deadlines usually land on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
The week

Six days, two dinners, three arrivals

MonNov 23
  • helperDay 1: deep clean, guest rooms
  • Grocery run for staples
TueNov 24
  • helperDay 2: make-ahead sides, set up the table
  • Pie and cake pickups if early
WedNov 25
  • helperDay 3: final prep
  • arrive?Suzanne & Jon, if invited
  • Rustic Bakery pie pickup is usually Wed
  • Easy dinner: takeout or out
ThuNov 26
  • Thanksgiving12 people
  • homeAudrey
  • Molly Stone's prepared-meal pickup is usually by 3pm
FriNov 27
  • depart?Suzanne & Jon, if invited
  • Leftovers day. No plans needed.
SatNov 28
  • Grace turns 25Dinner at Seared, Petaluma
  • departAudrey
Who's coming

The guest list

Thursday table · 10–12

BillKateTJGraceAudreyOlivia (TJ's friend) CallitaLillCurtJeff Suzanne?Jon?

The Buchanan 5 (Bill, Kate, TJ, Grace, Audrey), Olivia, and the 17 Harding crew make 10. Suzanne and Jon would make it 12.

Staying at the house

Suzanne & Jon (married) · Wed → Fri, if invitedAudrey home · Thu → SatGrace home · dates?Olivia staying over?

Suzanne and Jon are not yet decided. If they come, they need one room. Audrey and Grace are coming home. TJ lives here.

Saturday at Seared · 9

The Buchanan 5LillCurtCallitaJeff

Bill, Kate, TJ, Grace and Audrey, plus the 17 Harding crew.

The four ideas

What we found

Most 2026 holiday menus aren't posted yet. Prices marked 2025 are last year's and will move a little. The rest are estimates.

Idea 1

A full-time home helper, Mon–Wed

Cost ~$1,000–1,500 for 3 daysBook by mid-Oct

Ways to do it

WhoTemp work?What you getRate
Aunt Ann's In-House Staffing
415-749-3650		YesTemp housekeepers and chefs "for a short period". Serves Novato. Mainly does permanent hires, so call to confirm a 3-day booking.wage + $35/day min. fee
TLC Domestic Agency
650-209-0709		CallThe site only offers temp work for elder care. Marin is covered, but Novato isn't named.not published
Care.comYesPost a 3-day job and choose someone from reviews. You pay them directly. Background checks are optional and paid by you.~$21–30/hr
Green Planet Cleaning
415-895-0996		YesOne-time Monday deep clean. Serves all of Novato. Holiday priority goes to members, so book now.$480
Shiny Cleaning 415-717-4217 · Organic Cleaning Supreme 415-519-7404YesOne-time deep cleans. Both serve Novato.quote
Take a Chef
844-905-1243		YesThe chef shops, cooks, serves and cleans up. Has Novato chefs. Books within about 3 days.$92–102/person
Chef Adair
707-795-3675		YesOne-off holiday dinners, including Novato: "We prep, cook, serve… and clean!"quote
CozymealCallThe Marin listing says drop-off only. Confirm the chef cooks at the house.~$99/person
Party Staff
415-244-2769 (Sonoma) · 415-273-7000 (SF)		YesStaff only, no food. Serves and cleans up at home dinners, with a 5-hr minimum. See the Thursday section below.quote
Bay Area Event Staffing
888-670-0080		CallHas a Novato page for servers. Rates and holiday terms aren't published.~$45–65/hr (market)

Dropped: Perfect Timing, which staffs businesses only. TaskRabbit and Handy, which don't cover Marin. Marin Catering Company, which only sends staff with its own catering.

For

  • Covers the part that actually wears Kate and Bill out: cleaning, beds, dishes, prep.
  • Works whichever way Thursday goes, home or out.

Against

  • A helper who doesn't know the kitchen means supervising, which is work too.
  • Holiday rates run up to 50% higher when booked inside two weeks.

To settle

  • One person for all 3 days, or a deep-clean crew Monday plus a cook Tue–Wed?
  • Do they stay through Thursday for serving and dishes?
  • Before booking, ask about insurance, two references, and a video walkthrough of the kitchen.
Idea 2

Molly Stone's basics, plus our favorites

Cost ~$300–600 foodOrder late Oct

Where to order

StorePrepared dinnerPrice
Mollie Stone's Greenbrae
270 Bon Air Ctr · 415-461-1164 · ~20 min		Traditional dinner for 10–12: cooked 12–14 lb turkey, stuffing, mash, gravy, green beans, yams, cranberry, rolls, 2 piescall for 2026
Woodlands Market, KentfieldDiestel turkey dinner for 8–10 with pie$270 (2025)
United Markets, San AnselmoDiestel turkey plus 7 sides, for 10–12call
Good Earth, FairfaxOrganic turkeys, from-scratch sides, piescall
Whole Foods NovatoTurkey dinner for 6–8, in town. See the detail below.$99.99 (2025)

Whole Foods Novato, in detail

790 De Long Ave, Vintage Oaks · 415-878-0455 · about 5 min from home. The 2026 menu isn't posted yet, so these are 2025 prices.

ItemWhat's in it2025 price
Traditional Turkey Dinner, serves 6–8Pre-roasted 10–12 lb turkey, herb stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy, cranberry relish, herb butter, rolls$99.99
Half Turkey Dinner, serves 2–4A smaller version of the same meal$59.99
Prime Rib Feast, serves 6–8An alternative to turkey$149.99
Spiral Ham Dinner, serves 6–8Ham with sides$119.99
Vegetarian or vegan feast, serves 2–4Field Roast or plant-based$60–70
Extra sides, 2 lb (serves 4–6)Stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans. Gravy is $6.99 for 16 oz.$10–11 each
Pies, 9-inchPumpkin, apple, pecan, cheesecake$15–25
Raw turkeyOrganic 365 or conventional. They also carry Diestel; ask in store.$1.49–2.99/lb
  • For 12: one Traditional Turkey Dinner, one Half Turkey Dinner or about $30 of extra sides, and 2 pies. That's about $190–220 plus tax, much less than the store dinners above.
  • Ordering: Order at wholefoodsmarket.com/holiday or in the Amazon app, 48–72 hours ahead, and prepay. Prime members get up to 20% off some items.
  • Pickup: Plan on Wednesday. They don't usually do Thanksgiving-day pickup, and the store runs short hours that day.
  • Reheating: Turkey at 350°F for 60–90 min until it reaches 165°F, then rest 10 min. Sides at 325°F for 30–40 min, with gravy on the stovetop.

Buy vs. make

  • Buy: the turkey (the biggest risk, and it takes over the oven all day), gravy, rolls.
  • Make: the family favorites that can't be bought, plus mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce, which are fast and better fresh.
  • A dinner for 10–12 plus 2–3 homemade sides feeds 12.

Against

  • Greenbrae is 20 minutes each way, and Thanksgiving-day pickup usually closes by 3pm. Whole Foods Novato is 5 minutes away and the cheapest option, but plan on a Wednesday pickup.

To settle

  • Which 2–3 dishes are "ours" and get made at home?
  • Who does the pickup, and when: Wednesday, or Thursday morning?
Idea 3

Order desserts from elsewhere

Need 3 pies for 12Order early Nov

Pies for Thursday

BakeryNotesPrice
Rustic Bakery · Novato caféOrder by the Sunday before, pick up Wednesday. In town. Sells out.~$32–42
Jane / Marin (formerly Sweet Things), TiburonBlueboy mixed berry, apple, cherry, pecan · 415-388-8583call
Creekside Bakery, Grant Ave Novato40-year family bakery, 48-hr notice normally · 415-892-7655call
Bovine Bakery, Pt. ReyesWorth it only if someone's out that waycall
Tartine, SFApple pie or lemon tart, serves 8–10$59–62 (2025)

Suggested order

  • 1 pumpkin, 1 apple or pecan, 1 wildcard such as Jane's Blueboy. That's 24 slices for 12 people, enough for seconds.
  • If Plan B, Molly Stone's dinner includes 2 pies, so add just 1.

Grace's birthday cake

To settle

  • Does Seared allow an outside cake, and is there a plating fee?
Idea 4

Go out for Thanksgiving dinner

Cost ~$1,600–2,700 for 12 with tax, tip, wine (est.)Book Oct 1–15

Marin and nearby, table for 12

WhereFormat / roomPer person
Buckeye Roadhouse, Mill ValleyPrix fixe. Private Manzanita Room seats 25+. Resy opens Oct 1 at midnight.$105 (2025)
Sula at Cavallo Point, SausalitoPrix fixe feast. Several private rooms.$115 (2025)
Pelican Inn, Muir Beach3-course English-tavern feast. Phone only: 415-383-6000.$79 (2025)
Layla at MacArthur Place, Sonoma3-course, seatings noon–8pm. See the Sonoma list below.$85–115 (2025)
El Dorado Kitchen, SonomaA la carte, noon–6pm. The most flexible.$15–120 items
Scoma's, SausalitoSeafood-leaning feast on the water. Call about 12 · 415-332-9551.TBD

Sonoma, dine in (40–55 min drive)

WhereFormat / fit for 12Per person
Santé, Fairmont Sonoma Mission InnBuffet. Easiest for 12, since everyone eats at their own pace. Prepay required. Cancel by Nov 21.$149 + svc (2025)
Layla, MacArthur PlaceSeated prix fixe, 1–8pm. Has private dining rooms.$85–115 (2025, sources differ)
the girl & the fig4-course, noon–8pm. Wine pairing is +$18.$72 (2025)
Wit & WisdomPrix fixe, 1–7pm. Hotel dining room seats groups.$109–125 (2025)
John Ash & Co, Santa RosaPrix fixe. The shortest Sonoma drive, about 30 min.$90 (2025)
Stella, Kenwood · Poppy, Glen EllenSmall and good. Book early for 12.$60–75 (2025)

Restaurant food, eaten at home

WhereWhatPrice
Glen Ellen StarFull dinner. Pick up Wednesday 10am–1pm.$75/pp (2025)
El Dorado Kitchen, SonomaFull dinner. Order by about Nov 17.$65/pp (2025)
Big John's, HealdsburgDinner for 6–8. Order 2 for 12.$180 each (2025)

For

  • No cooking, no dishes, and the house stays guest-ready for Suzanne and Jon, if they come.
  • A private room makes 12 feel like our own table.

Against

  • No leftovers, which some of the family will mind.
  • Fixed seating time and a drive home after wine. Sonoma is 40+ minutes each way, so plan a driver or car service.
  • Two restaurant dinners in one week, counting Seared on Saturday.

To settle

  • Does anyone feel strongly about Thanksgiving at home?
  • Marin (closer) or Sonoma (more of an outing)?
Mon–Wed help

Finding a great helper for the week

The agencies above work, but the best people in Marin often come through neighbors. The catch is that paying someone directly makes you their employer under California law. Here are the best routes, in order.

1

All week: a staffing company

One call covers Mon–Wed prep shifts and Thursday service. The company employs and insures its staff, so there's no household-employer paperwork. See the staffing section below.

2

Or Mon–Wed: word of mouth

Start with your own cleaner, who may do extra days or bring in a colleague. Then post on Nextdoor and ask in the Novato Mothers Club. This route is the fastest and cheapest, at $20–35/hr.

3

Fallback: a concierge firm

Marin Estate Management runs "get the house ready" as a project: groceries, flowers and guest rooms. They mostly work on retainer, so ask whether they'll take one week.

Where to look

RouteHow to use itCost
Your own cleanerAsk for 3 extra days, or for a teammate. Many Marin cleaners work in small crews. This is the highest-trust option you have.your usual rate
Nextdoor, NovatoPost a dated, specific "Wanted" request. Names neighbors already recommend: Housekeepers of Marin 415-898-8388, Anabella House Cleaning 415-342-0653, Ilya's House Cleaning 707-309-8827, Novato Cleaning Services 415-827-2591.$20–35/hr
Parent groupsAsk "who do you use for holiday help?" in Novato Mothers Club or Mommies of Marin.$20–35/hr
Cleaning companies, extended daysMolly Maid of Marin (serves Novato, insured, does special events). Lilly's of Marin promises the same team every visit. Ask for the same person on all 3 days. They clean only, with no cooking or serving.quote
Concierge firmsMarin Estate Management preps for guests: groceries, flowers, rooms. Marin Concierge Home Services is similar.consultation
More household agenciesTown + Country Resources (SF) places temp chefs and assistants. The Help Company supplies temp housekeepers for events. Rent-a-Parent, based in Marin since 1984, runs an on-call temp service.Help Co. $40–50/hr, 8-hr min.
Culinary studentsEmail a posting to SRJC's Culinary Career Center, or use CCSF's culinary job-posting form. This is slower, so post now. College of Marin has no culinary program.$16–32/hr

Dead ends: Instawork and Qwick book only for businesses, and no Marin nonprofit places household workers.

If you hire someone directly

  • They're your employee, not a contractor. In California a household can't pay a housekeeper on a 1099.
  • At $1,000–1,800 you'll likely cross the $750-per-quarter trigger to register with the state payroll tax office (EDD), plus the $1,000 federal unemployment-tax (FUTA) trigger. Report the hire within 20 days.
  • Overtime is 1.5× past 8 hours in a day, so keep days at 8 hours or budget for it.
  • Homeowners insurance usually covers only help under about 15 hrs a week. Call your insurer before a 30–40 hour week.
  • Paying cash is illegal and leaves you with no injury coverage. A payroll service such as Care.com HomePay or GTM handles the paperwork.
  • Going through an agency or a licensed company avoids all of this.

Tip

  • 10–20% of wages, about $100–360, for a week that went well.

Vetting checklist

  • Two references from multi-day or event work, not just weekly cleaning.
  • Who runs the background and ID check: the agency (get it in writing) or you?
  • "If you're hurt in my kitchen or break something, whose insurance pays?"
  • An RBS certificate and age 21+ for anyone pouring alcohol.
  • Written tasks and start and end times for each day.
  • Pay setup decided before day one: agency W-2 or your own EDD registration.
  • For a cleaning company: the same person on all 3 days, in writing.
  • A phone or video call before booking, not text only.
  • Their backup plan if they cancel during holiday week.

Brief to send candidates

Household help needed: Thanksgiving week in Novato, CA

Dates: Mon Nov 23 – Wed Nov 25, 2026, full days. Optional: Thu Nov 26, afternoon through cleanup.

Mon–Wed: Help cook and prep for Thanksgiving, clean the house, and get guest rooms and common areas ready.

Thursday (optional): Serve dinner for 10–12 and do the full kitchen and dining cleanup.

Looking for: Someone reliable with multi-day household or event experience who is comfortable working alongside us.

Pay: $__/hr, paid properly through your company or through our household payroll. Please tell us which applies to you.

Please send: Two references from similar work, whether you're insured, and an RBS certificate if you'll pour wine.

Reply by: Oct 15. We're booking early because it's a holiday week.

Contact: Kate or Bill Buchanan, [phone / email]

Staffing, all week

Booking staff for the whole week

The same company can cover Mon–Wed day shifts (prep, cleaning, setting up) and Thanksgiving night (serving, pouring, dishes). You provide the food. Their staff are employed and insured by the company, so you never become anyone's employer. Most Marin caterers only send staff along with their own food. The companies below say in writing that they send staff only. None publish Thanksgiving rates, so call each one.

Who to call, in order

CompanyWhyPhone
The Party Staff, Sonoma/Napa office"We don't provide food, beverages or rentals… only staffing." Does home dinners, with a 5-hr minimum.415-244-2769
The Party Staff, SF officeSame company. Try here if the Sonoma office doesn't cover Novato.415-273-7000
Bay Area Event StaffingBooks servers alone for private homes: "set up, serve, and even do dishes." Has a Novato page.888-670-0080
NorCal StaffingServers and clearing for home events. Marin isn't listed, so ask.925-292-0838
PartyServingSays it covers Marin with "party helpers." Its website is broken, so call.650-489-6327

These caterers only staff their own catering: Marin Catering Company, Ray's Catering, Park Avenue, and the girl & the fig.

What to book

  • Mon–Wed: 1 helper, about 8 hours a day, for prep, cleaning, beds and setting the table. Ask for the same person all 3 days.
  • Thu: 1–2 servers plus 1 kitchen and dish person, about 3:30–8:30pm. Ideally one of them is the Mon–Wed helper, who already knows the kitchen.

What it costs (est.)

  • –50/hr per person, with a 5-hr minimum per shift.
  • Mon–Wed, 1 person for 3 × 8 hrs: about –1,300 with tip.
  • Thursday adds 10–25%. Three people run about –1,200 with tip, and two run about –800.
  • The whole week comes to roughly ,400–2,500.

Ask on the call

  • Do you cover Novato, and is there a travel fee?
  • What is the holiday rate, and what are the cancellation terms?
  • Will you book day shifts Mon–Wed for household prep and cleaning, not just an event?
  • Can you name the staff and guarantee the same person all week?
  • Will they do dishes, trash and carving?
  • Is anyone pouring wine RBS-certified? California requires it.
  • Can you send a certificate of insurance?

Call script

Hi, I'm booking staff only, no food, for Thanksgiving week at our home in Novato. From Monday to Wednesday, November 23–25, I'd like one helper for about 8 hours a day to prep, clean and get the house ready. Ideally it's the same person each day. On Thursday, November 26, we're hosting 10–12 for dinner and providing all the food. I'd like 2 servers and 1 kitchen and dish person from about 3:30 to 8:30pm, through cleanup. Can you tell me your holiday rate and minimum hours, whether there's a travel fee to Novato, whether the same staff are guaranteed, and whether they'll handle dishes, trash and carving? If they'll pour wine, are they RBS-certified? Also, what's your cancellation policy, and can you send a certificate of insurance?

Open questions

What Kate and Bill need to decide

Roughly in order. Question 1 settles most of the rest.

  1. Do we invite Suzanne and Jon?This sets the Thursday count at 10 or 12 and decides whether there are house guests at all.
  2. Thursday at home, or out?If out, book on Oct 1.
  3. What's the budget ceiling for the week?The three plans run from about $1,800 to $4,500 before Seared.
  4. Which dishes are non-negotiable family favorites?Those get made at home, and everything else gets bought.
  5. Where does everyone sleep Wed and Thu nights?One guest room for Suzanne and Jon, plus rooms for Grace and Audrey, and possibly Olivia.
  6. Helper scope: Mon–Wed only, or through Thursday?Thursday dishes for 12 are the hardest two hours of the week.
  7. When is Grace home, and does she stay through Saturday?Audrey is Thu to Sat. Grace's dates set the Friday plan and the rooms.
  8. Any dietary needs across the 12?Ask once in the invite and pass it to the store, chef or restaurant.
  9. Who brings the wine, and who drives?Matters most if Thursday is in Sonoma.
  10. Friday plan for the house guests?Default: leftovers and nothing scheduled.
  11. Grace's cake: bring one to Seared, or order dessert there?Ask about their outside-cake policy on the same call as the reservation.
Thoughts

Things worth knowing

Seared is in Petaluma, at 170 Petaluma Blvd N, about 20 minutes from Novato. Its private River Room needs 20 guests, so for 9 ask for a section of the main room. Saturday service runs 3:30–9pm. Corkage is $20 a bottle. Entrées are $26–65.

Most of the stress is Thursday cleanup, not the cooking. Three hired hands from 3:30 to 8:30pm cost about $800–1,200 with tip and free up the whole evening.

Wednesday night needs a plan too. If Suzanne and Jon come, they arrive and the kitchen is mid-prep. Order takeout or eat out so no one cooks twice.

A middle path: Sonoma food, our table. Glen Ellen Star or El Dorado Kitchen to-go gives restaurant cooking with no drive home after wine, and there are leftovers. Order by mid-November.

Order the turkey, not the risk. A fully cooked turkey frees the oven for the homemade sides on the day.

One week, two restaurant dinners. With Seared on Saturday, hosting Thursday gives the week a nice balance of one at home and one out.